m U S ARMY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. OF. ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE. Natick, Massachusetts. â¢). â¢I~ELECTED. 1M1.AY. 04 1987 0. UNITED STATES ARMY.
A D_ _
FILE COPY REPORT NO
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T8-87
NUTRITIONAL AND HYDRATION STATUS OF PECIAL FORCES SOLDIERS CONSUMING THE RATION, )LD WEATHER, OR THE MEAL, READY-TO-EAT RATION DURING A TEN DAY COLD WEATHER FIELD
TRAINING EXERCISE 00 m
U S ARMY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE Natick, Massachusetts
•I~ELECTED
•)
1M1.AY
04 1987
UNITED STATES ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH 6 DEVELOPMENT COMMAND
8
4 30198
0
The findings in this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position, unless so designated by other authorized documents.
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11 TITLE
(include Security Classi fication) Nutritional and Hydration Status of Special Forces
Soldiers Consumtng the Ration, Cold Weather or the Meal, Ready-to-Eat Ration During a Ten Day, Cold Weather Field Training Exerc 12 PERtSONAL AUTHOR(S)
Roberts, DE, Askew, E.W., Rose, MS, Sharp, MA, Bruttig, S, Buchbinder, it, Engell, DB 13.;. TYPE OF REPORT
Final
[3b TIME COVERED
FEB 86
FROM
14 DATE OF REPORT (Year, Month, Day) TOf
82BV 1987 February 19
15 PAGE COUNT
96
16 SUPPLEMENTARY NOTATION
17 FIELD
COSATI CODES GROUP $SU-GROUP
18 SUBJECT TERMS (Continue on reverse it necessary arid identify by block number)
Ration, Cold Weather, Caloric Intake, Hypohydration, Body Weight Loss, Meal, Ready-to-Eat
19.ABSTRACT (Continue on reverse if necessary and identify by block number)
"Four teams of
Special Forces vol-iri:eers were divided into two groups to test the Meal, Ready to Eat (M!RE) and the Ration Cold Weather (RCW) rations in a field test in a moderately cold environment. -The MIRE group was-allowed to select their 10 day food supply from an issue of 4 MRE's per day. The RCW group carried the entire ration into thi field;ý> Pre and post measurements were taken, and field data was limited to questionnaires and a daily urine dipstick measure. Both groups lost weight (MRE - 6.9 lbs; RCW - 5.9 lbs) as the average caluric intake was 2733 kcal for MiRE group and 2751 kcal for RCW group. These caloric intakes were approximately 1000 kcal less than their estimated energy requirements. Both groups showed evidence of dehydration (as indicated by elevated urinaIry specific gravity) which could havebeen reduced by better water discipline. The RCW ration consumption led to lower protein, lower salt and higher carbohydrate intakes than the MiRE ration. The daily RCW ration (4541 kcal) weighs about half as much as a comparable caloric amount of MiRE rations (4 rations 4E692 kcal). There did not appear to be any significant difference in the consumption ('fthe-> 20 DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILiTY OF ABSTRACT
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OTIC USERS 22b TELEPHONE (include Area Code)
83 APRedition may be used until exhausted All other editions are obsolete
22c OFFICE SYMBOL
ERIYCASFAIOOFTIPAE.
N11`7
19.
Continued
Sworations,
but the theoretical decrease in water requirements due to lower protein and salt content and the decreased weight make the RCW a better choice for use in ccld environments where freezing, water availability, and weight are important considerations. The results of this study indicated that although the RCW supported soldier pe .•-ance in this FTX similar to the MRE, it offered no improvement in reducingleight loss, increasing calorie intake or hydration status compared to future version of the RCW should maintain the present carbohydrate level, the MRE. but reduce the sugar content by reducing the bar/cookie components, and include je,j4 , items to encourage fluid consumption.
W5
,b-
DISCLAIMER STATEMENT
The views, opinions, and findings contained in this report are those of the authors and should not be construed at- an official Department of the Army position,
pal*cy, or
decision.
unless
so
designated
by
other
official
documentation.
Human subjects participated in these studies after giving their free and informed con-sent. Investigators adhered to AR 70-25 and USAMRDC Regulation 70-25 in Use of Volunteers in Research.
Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.
NTSGRA&I DT'IC TAB
cDistrilbuti on/__
AveiitabilitY Codes Di~st
Spocial
. .....
ACKNOW LEGEMENTS
The authors would like to express their thanks to the team members
of the
3rd bN, 10th Special Forces Group (A), Ft. Devens who participated in this study. Special thanks go to SSG David Moore who organized the field logistics and perforined much of the laboratory analysis, SSG John Hodenpel and Sue Jaber for clinical analysis and data reduction, Edward Roche and Joseph Wiliiams for data reduction, Christopher Walsh for graphics, and Dorothy Buell ano Julie Pocost for
manuscript preparation.
Loveridge,
The
test
Food Engineering Directorate,
Engineering Command.
li
rations were provided
by
Ms.
Viki
Natick Research Development and
Nutritional and Hydration Status of Special Forces Soldiers Ccnsumning the Ration, Cold Weather or the Meal, Ready-to-Eat Ration During a Ten Day Cold Weaher Field Training Exercise
D.E. LTC MAJ M.A. CPT J.C.
Roberts, Ph.D., Cold Research Division E.W. Askew, Ph.D., Military Nutrition Division M.S. Rose, Ph.D., R.D., Military Nutrition Division Sharp, M.S., Exercise Physiology Division S. Btuttig, Ph.D., Cold Research Division duchbinder, M.S., R.D., Military Nutrition Division
US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine and D. B. Engell, Ph.D., iBehavioral Sciences Division Natick Research, Development and Engineering Command
Natick, Massachusetts 01760
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Table of Contents
pa~e
List of Tables
vi
List of Figures
vii
Abstract
ix
Introduction
I
Methods Rations
2
Test Subjects
2
Experimnentai Design
3
Anthropometry
4
Muscle Strength and Endurance
4
Food and Water Intakes
5
Nutrient Intakes
6
Nutritional Status
7
Hydration Status
7
Blood Pressure
9
Statistical Methods
9
Results Body Weight and Percent Body Fat Changes
9
Muscle Strength and Endurance
t0
Nutrient Intakes
11
iv
LWO
Table of Contents 22Le Nutritional Status
13
Food Itein Component Preferences
17
Hydration Status
18
Blood Pressure
20
20
Discussion Body Weight and Percent Body Fat Changes and Muscle Changes and Endurance
21
Nutritional Status
2
Hydration Status
25
Foo)d Itern Selection and Consumption
25
Summary and Conclusions
27
Recommendations
29
Rcfcrcnccs
31
Tables
33
Figures
42
Appendix I 68
Desc.ription of the Ration Cold Weather Appendix 11
75
Food Consumptio.i Record forms Appenidix III Daily Urine Dipstick Chemistry Logbook
83
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List of Tables page
Table Number 1.
Nutrient composition of the MRE and RCW rations
33
2.
Isokinetic leg extension strength and endurance by diet group pre and post scenario
34
Isokinetic leg extension strength and endurance of current data vs. previous Army soldier samples
35
4.
Hernatocrit value for both rations pre and post scenario
36
5.
Serum aldosterone concentrations for both ration groups pre and post scenario
37
6.
Serum osmolality for both ration groups pre and post scenario.
38
7.
Calculated values for blood volume, plasma volume, and total body water for the MRE group
39
8.
Calculated values for blood volume, plasma voiume, and total body water for the RCW group
40
h.Martenrate and blood pressire value for MR group. Mean heart rate and blood pressure values for RCW group.
.1 41
3.
10.
90. Mean hatrt
n
lo
rsuevle
o
C
ru.4
Vi
I -.
.,.
List of Figures/Illustrations Figure Number 1.
Mean body weight
44
2.
Mean percentage body fat
44
3.
Daily caloric consumption for both ration groups
45
4.
Daily protein consumption for both ration groups.
46
5.
Daily carbohydrate consumption for both ration groups
47
6.
Daily fat consumption for both ration groups
48
7.
Meari consumption values for nine day test for calories, protein, carbohydrate, and fat
49
8.
Mean sodium consumption for both ration groups
50
9.
Mean and daily urinary ketones (dipstick) for both ration groups
51
10.
Mean blood glucose values for both ration groups
52
11.
Mcan blood urea nitrogen values tor both ration groups
52
12.
Mean blood triglyceride concentration for both ration groups
53
Mean blood cholesterol concentrations for both ration groups
53
14.
Mean serum sodium concentrations for both ration groups
54
15.
Mean serum potassium concentration for both ration groups
54
16. 17.
Mean serum choloride concentration for both ration group Mean serum phosphorus concentrations for both ration
55
groups
55
Mean serum calcium concentrations for both ration groups
56
13.
18. 19.
Mean serum protein concentrations for both ration
groups
56
20.
Mean serum albumin concentrations for both ration groups
57
21.
Mean serun globulin concentrations for both ration groups
57
vii
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List of Figures/Illust!rations Figure Number 22,
Mean values ftr percentage of MRli entrees taken vs. eaten
23.
Mean values for percentage of starches taken vs. eaten
58
for the MRE ration
58
Mean values for percentage of desserts taken vs. eaten for the MRI. ration
59
Medn values for percentage of spreads taken vs. taten for MRE ration
59
Mean values for percenetage of fruits taken vs. eaten for MRE ration
60
Mean values for percentage of beverages taken vs. eaten for MRE ration
60
Mean values for percentage of condiments taken vs. eaten for MRIE ration
61
29.
Mean values for percentage of entrees eaten foi- RCW ration
62
30.
Mean values for percentage of desserts eaten for RCW ration
62
31.
Mean value for percentage of hot cereals eaten for RCW ration
63
Mean value for percentage of beverages consumed for RCW ration
63
33.
Mean values for percentage of soups eaten for RCW ration
64
34.
Mean values for percentage of condiments consumed for RCW ration
64
Mean values for urine specific gravity (TS meter) for both ration groups
65
Mean values for daily urine specific gravity (dipstick) for both ration groups
66
24. 25. 26. 27. 28.
32.
3). 36. 37.
Mean values for urinary sodium concentrations for both ration groups
67
38.
Mean values for urinary potassiu.-n concentrations for both ration groups
67
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ABSTRA=CT Four %eamn
of Special Forces volunteers were divided into two groups to
test the M4eal, Ready to Eat (MRE) and the Ration Cold Weather (RCW) rations in a field test in a moderately cold enviroanent. The MRL group was allowed to select their 10 day food supply from an issue of 4 MRE's per day.
The RCW
I
group carried the entire ration into the field. Pre and post measurements were taken, and field data was limited to questionnaires and a daily urine dipstick measure.
Both groups lost weight (MRI: = 6.9 Ibs; RCW = 5.') lbs) as the average
caloric intake was 2733 kcal for MRE group and 2751 kcal for RCW group. caloric intakes were approximately requirements.
These
1000 kcal lejs than their predicted energy
Both groups showed evidence of dehydration (as indicated by
elevated urinary specific gravity) which could have been reduced by better water discipline.
The RCW ration consumption led to lower protein, lower salt and
hi•iher csrbohtydrate intakes than the MRE ration.
The daily RCW ration (4541
kcal) weighs about half as much as a comparable caloric amount of MRE rations (4 rations=48)2 kcal).
There did not appear to be any significant difference in
the consumption of the two rations, but the theoretical decrease in water requirenents due to lower protein and salt content and the decreised weight make the RCW a better choice for use in cold environ-nents where freezing, water availability, and weight are important considerations.
The results of this
study indicated that although the RCW supported soldier performance in this FTX similar to the MRE, it offered no imnprovement in reducing weight loss, increasing calorie Oitake or hydration stdtus compared to the MRE-
A future
version of the RCW should maintain the present carbohydrate level, but reduce the sugar content by reducing the bar/cookie components, and include items to encourage fluid consumption.
.1 Ix k'
INTRODUCTION The Marine Corps has established a required operational capability (ROC) for a 4500 kcal operational arctic ration (subsequently designated the Ration, Cold Weather).
The Marines have found that current rations are deficient for
cold weather operations because they are too bulky and heavy and water content inakes them susceptible to freezing. Frozen rations accentuate the problems of hypothermia and dehydration and may compromise package barrier protection. The Marine arctic ration prototype has been evaluated during NATO winter exercises (1-3), in a climatic chamber test (4), by the Navy Seal Team (5), by the U.S. Army Health Clinic, Ft. Greely, Alaska (6), and by the Cold Regions Test Center, Ft. Greely, Alaska (7). The
U.S.
Army
School
Quartermaster
has
a
initiated
draft
letter
requirement (DLR) for the Ration Cold Weather (RCW). Previous field testN (2,6,7) of the RCW (formerly Arctic Ration) have identified suboptimal caloric intakes and dehydration as potential shortcomings of the RCW (as well as other packaged rations).
Other tests failed to record
either food intake or body weight loss (1,3,6,7) and no tests have included the effect of the RCW on nutritional status or muscle strength and endurance. For these reasons, it was decided to conduct a technical feasibility test of the RCW with elements of the 3rd din, 10th Special Forces (A) Ft. Devens, MA during their winter warfare training in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This test was designed to collect blood and urine samples, body weights, conduct muscle strength testing, and measure body fat pre and post 10 day field training exercise (FTX) and record food and fluid intakes daily.
This data would permit a
reasonable evaluation of energy balance and nutritional and fluid status.
A
description of the RCW is enclosed in Appendix I.
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